Chapter 4: Consciousness

Learning Outcomes

• Define consciousness.

• Explain the nature of sleep and various sleep disorders.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the natures and uses of hypnosis, meditation, and biofeedback in altering consciousness.

• Define substance abuse and dependence, identify categories of psychoactive drugs and explain their allures and dangers.

What is Consciousness?

Consciousness

• Sensory Awareness• Selective Attention– Cocktail Party Effect

• Direct Inner Awareness

Preconscious, Unconscious, Nonconscious

• Preconscious– Not currently in awareness, but readily available

Preconscious, Unconscious, Nonconscious

• Unconscious– Unavailable to awareness under most

circumstances– Repression– Suppression

Preconscious, Unconscious, Nonconscious

• Nonconscious– Bodily processes that can not be experienced

through sensory awareness

Altered States of Consciousness

• Sleep• Meditation• Hypnotic trance• Distorted perceptions from mind-altering

drugs

Sleep and Dreams

Biological and Circadian Rhythms

• Circadian rhythm is a cycle that is connected with the 24-hour period of Earth’s rotation– Cycle of wakefulness and sleep

The Stages of Sleep

• Using EEG records, sleep stages are recorded by different brain waves

• Nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep– First four stages of sleep– Stage 1 is lightest; Stage 4 is deepest

• Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep

The Stages of Sleep

The Stages of Sleep

• Stage 1– Slow down from alpha waves to theta waves– Hypnagogic state may be experienced

• Stage 2– Appearance of sleep spindles

• Stages 3 and 4– Delta waves– Stage 4 is deepest stage of sleep

The Stages of Sleep

• REM sleep– Rapid eye movements– Paradoxical sleep– When awakened in REM sleep, 80% report

dreams

Typical Night of Sleep

• Tend to undergo 5 cycles through the stages of sleep

• First time in stage 4 sleep is usually the longest

• Sleep becomes lighter as the night wears on• REM sleep becomes longer as night wears on– Last REM period may be about 30 minutes

Sleep Cycles

Functions of Sleep

• Rejuvenates the body• Helps us recover from stress• Helps us consolidate learning• May promote development of infants’ brains

Amount of Sleep

• Amount of sleep needed may be partly genetically determined

• Additional sleep is needed when you are under stress

• As you age, you require less sleep

Sleep, Learning and Memory

• Individuals deprived of REM sleep– Learn more slowly– Forget what they have learned quicker– Show REM rebound

Dreams

• Imagery in the absence of external stimulation• Most vivid during REM sleep• May dream in color or black and white• Pleasant dream or nightmare

Why Do We Dream What We Dream?

• Memories of the day • Traumatic events – Nightmares• Reflections of unconscious desires – Freud

Truth or Fiction?

• We act out our forbidden fantasies in our dreams.

Truth or Fiction?

• We act out our forbidden fantasies in our dreams.

• FICTION!

Activation-Synthesis Model of Dreaming

• Acetylcholine and the pons stimulate responses that lead to dreaming– Reticular formation stimulates parts of the cortex

involved in memory– Cortex then synthesizes sources of stimulation

into dreams

• Most likely dream of recent events

Truth or Fiction?

• Insomnia can be caused by trying too hard to fall asleep.

Truth or Fiction?

• Insomnia can be caused by trying too hard to fall asleep.

• TRUE!

Sleep Disorders

• Insomnia• Narcolepsy– Sleep paralysis

• Sleep apnea

Deep Sleep Disorders

• Occur in stage 3 or 4 sleep• More common in children– Sleep Terrors– Bed-Wetting– Sleepwalking (Somnambulism)

Truth or Fiction?

• It is dangerous to awaken a sleepwalker.

Truth or Fiction?

• It is dangerous to awaken a sleepwalker.

• FICTION!

Altering Consciousness Through Hypnosis, Meditation, and Biofeedback

Hypnosis

• Altered state of consciousness in which people are suggestible and behave as though in a trance

• Used in medical procedures, as an aid in coping

• Hypnotic trance• Hypnotic suggestibility– People who are easily hypnotized

Truth or Fiction?

• You can be hypnotized against your will.

Truth or Fiction?

• You can be hypnotized against your will.

• FICTION!

Explaining Hypnosis

• Role Theory• Response Set Theory

Meditation

• Focusing consciousness to alter relationship between the self and the environment

• Transcendental Meditation (TM)– Concentrate on mantras– Relaxation response

• Mindfulness Meditation (MM)– Focus on present versus ruminate on problems

Truth or Fiction?

• You can teach a rat to raise or lower its heart rate.

Truth or Fiction?

• You can teach a rat to raise or lower its heart rate.

• TRUE!

Biofeedback

• A system that provides information about a bodily function in order to gain some control over it

• Biofeedback training (BFT)– helps combat stress, tension

and anxiety• Electromyograph (EMG)– Monitors muscle tension

Altering ConsciousnessThrough Drugs

Psychoactive Substances

• Drugs that distort perceptions and change moods

Substance Abuse and Dependence

• Substance abuse is repeated use of a substance despite impaired functioning

• Substance dependence is characterized by loss of control over use of the substance– Organize life around getting and using

a substance– Tolerance– Abstinence syndrome

Causes of Substance Abuse and Dependence

• Experimentation• Recommendation or observation of others• Reinforcement by peers or positive effects• Self medication• Genetic predisposition toward physiological

dependence

Alcohol

• Most abused drug– 10 to 20 million Americans are alcoholics– Half of all Americans use alcohol regularly– About 4 college students die each day from

alcohol-related causes– Binge drinking

Alcohol

• Depressant– Slows activity of central nervous system

• Effects– Lowers inhibitions– Impairs cognitive functioning and coordination

Alcohol

• Men more likely to become alcoholic than women– Alcohol has stronger effect on women

• Asian and Asian American less likely than Europeans and European Americans to drink to excess– Asians more likely to show flushing response

• Can lead to physiological dependence

Opiates

• Group of narcotics derived from the opium poppy

• Laboratory produced opioids– Morphine, heroin, codeine, Demerol

• Major application is pain relief• Provides a strong euphoric “rush” • Can lead to dependence

Truth or Fiction?

• Heroin was once used as a cure for addiction for morphine.

Truth or Fiction?

• Heroin was once used as a cure for addiction for morphine.

• TRUE!

Barbiturates

• Depressants with medical uses– Relaxation, pain management, treatment of

epilepsy, high blood pressure and insomnia

• Rapidly lead to dependence• Dangerous to mix barbiturates and alcohol

Truth or Fiction?

• Many health professionals calm down hyperactive children by giving them a stimulant.

Truth or Fiction?

• Many health professionals calm down hyperactive children by giving them a stimulant.

• TRUE!

Amphetamines

• Stimulant• Can produce euphoric feeling– May cause a “crash” upon withdrawal

• Tolerance develops quickly and users may become dependent

• Ritalin – Common treatment for hyperactive children

Truth or Fiction?

• Coca-Cola once “added life” to its signature drink through the use of a powerful – but now illegal – stimulant.

Truth or Fiction?

• Coca-Cola once “added life” to its signature drink through the use of a powerful – but now illegal – stimulant.

• TRUE!

Cocaine

• Stimulant that produces euphoric feelings• Physical dangers– Sudden rises in blood pressure, decreased oxygen

supply to the heart, quickened heart rate

• Overdose– Can cause restlessness and insomnia, tremors,

headaches, nausea, convulsions, hallucinations, delusions, cardiorespiratory collapse

How Cocaine Produces Euphoria and Why People “Crash”

Nicotine

• Addictive stimulant in tobacco smoke– Creates physiological

dependence on tobacco

• Enhances memory and attention

• Relaxing effect• Depresses appetite

and raises metabolic rate

Gender, Level of Education, and Smoking

Truth or Fiction?

• The number of people who die from smoking-related causes is greater than the number lost to motor vehicle accidents, abuse of alcohol and all other drugs, suicide, homicide, and AIDS combined.

Truth or Fiction?

• The number of people who die from smoking-related causes is greater than the number lost to motor vehicle accidents, abuse of alcohol and all other drugs, suicide, homicide, and AIDS combined.

• TRUE!

Nicotine

• Cigarette smoke also contains– Hydrocarbons (tars)– Carbon monoxide

• Secondhand smoke

Marijuana

• Hallucinogen; active ingredient THC– Hashish is derived from resin – more potent

• May produce relaxation, mood elevation, sharpened perceptions, self-insight, creative thinking, empathy for others

• Time perception may be altered• Disorientation may be pleasant or disorienting

Marijuana

• Impairs perceptual-motor coordination• Impairs short-term memory and slows

learning• May experience tolerance and withdrawal

symptoms

LSD

• Synthetic hallucinogen• Produces vivid, colorful hallucinations• Flashbacks– Occur days, weeks, or longer after usage;

distorted perceptions that mimic LSD trip

• Other hallucinogens – Mescaline– PCP

Psychoactive Drugs and Their Effects

Psychoactive Drugs and Their Effects